Pueblo Hemp "Ban"

Pueblo Colorado enacted zoning ordinance in March 18, 2015 which essentially bans the pollen from any male hemp plants from growing out doors. Pollen is a critical and key component in creating seed. With out the pollen there is no seed and any one seeking to do grow industrial hemp on an agriculture scale is prevented in doing so in Pueblo, CO currently.

There are effort both on the Counties side as well as the hemp industry side working on find a solution which would ultimately remove any restriction or additional regulations on industrial hemp.

On 9.15.15 in Pueblo, Co there was a MJ and Hemp stakeholders meeting which GHC attended. The video of the meeting is below. Please note that some of the audio is better in spots then other places on the time line.

In the option of GHC, we believe this is where Hemp/MJ wars have started and hopefully will end as well. We can find a way to co exist. Please check back for more updates as we will be presenting a ideal solution to the county soon for consideration and would appreciate all feed back.

There is an extensive back story to all the players and the time line involved in how this ordinance was written and put in effect. Regardless, GHC is only interested in fair opportunity to grow hemp in accordance with the state laws, rules and regulation. We don't not support any ordinance or rules which would prevent and or otherwise regulate the ability to grow industrial hemp.

A. Prior to the operation of any Hemp Establishment, a Commercial Industrial Hemp Permit or Research and Development Permit shall be obtained from the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture. Said Permit shall be submitted to the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development as part of the Zoning Compliance Review Hemp application.

B. Prior to the operation of any Hemp Establishment, proof of processing either on-site or the name of the processing company shall be submitted to the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development as part of the Zoning Compliance Review Hemp application.

C. Prior to the operation of any Hemp Establishment, a Zoning Compliance Review Hemp application shall be submitted for review by the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development and only upon approval shall the operation be permitted.

D. Uses established pursuant to this Section shall at all times be in complete compliance with the terms and conditions of its Hemp Establishment permit for Permits issued by the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County.

E. No Hemp Establishment shall be allowed as a Home Occupation use.

F. Distances are measured from the property line upon which the Hemp Establishment is located using a direct line. If part of a larger parcel of land as described as one property by legal description in a recorded deed upon which several Hemp Establishments are to be located, the distances are measured from the fence line of each Hemp Establishment or if no fences, from the outside boundary of the grow area or from the greenhouse and/or building in which the Hemp Establishment is located.

G. No Hemp Establishment shall be located within five (5) miles of any Marijuana Establishment as measured from the property line of the Hemp Establishment to the property line of the Marijuana Establishment using a direct line. This subsection G shall not apply to: 1) any Hemp Establishment that contains only plants that are confirmed female and documentation of female only plants shall be submitted to the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development; or 2) any Hemp Establishment who submits a waiver of the distance requirement that is signed by all Marijuana Establishments within the five (5) mile radius; or 3) a location where the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development previously approved a Zoning Compliance Review Hemp application and a permitted Hemp Establishment has existed in continuous operation since the time of original permitting.

H. No Hemp Establishment shall be located within 1,000 feet of any existing public or private elementary, middle, junior high or high school as measured from property line of the school to the property line of the Hemp Establishment using a direct line.

I. No Hemp Establishment shall be located in:

a building containing residential units,

a movable or mobile structure.

J. Permitted Zone District. Hemp Establishment is only permitted in the A-1/A-2, Agricultural Zone Districts in a greenhouse, building, or outside farming as a use-by-right; in the I-1/I-2 Industrial Zone Districts in a greenhouse or building as a use-by-right. Male hemp plants and hermaphrodite hemp plants shall only be grown in an enclosed building, which does not include a greenhouse, with a proper filtration system and clothing/footwear preventative measures (i.e., clean room mat) to prevent escape of pollen/seed/or other product that might be detrimental to a hemp and/or marijuana crop.

K. Any transporting of Industrial Hemp shall be accompanied by a copy of the Department of Agriculture Hemp Permit.

L. Quarterly and year end harvest data shall be provided to Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development.

M. Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development has the right to inspect the Hemp Establishment and request paperwork from the Department of Agriculture. Other Governmental Agencies whether State or Local, such as Colorado Division of Water Resources, Pueblo Regional Building Department, City-County Health Department, have the right to inspect the Hemp Establishment for compliance with their respective regulations.